How the Nuggets routed the Heat in NBA Finals Game 1 behind ...

DENVER – It took the Nuggets 47 seasons of NBA basketball to reach a finals.

Now that they’re finally in one, they’re wearing it well.

Denver was dominant from start to finish in a 104-93 win over the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals on Thursday night, behind a triple-double from two-time MVP Nikola Jokić in his first finals game.

Game 2 is at 8 p.m. Sunday at Denver’s Ball Arena.

The Nuggets, who were the No. 1 team in the West for most of the season and off for 10 days after sweeping the Lakers out of the conference finals, led by 21 at the end of the third quarter and never let the Heat get closer than nine over the final 29 minutes.

Jokić, who is averaging a triple-double in the postseason. Finished with 27 points, 14 boards, and 10 assists. He has 15 career triple-doubles in the playoffs, trailing only Magic Johnson and LeBron James.

Jamal Murray, who came in averaging just 13 points over his career against the Heat – his second-lowest average against any team – scored 26 with 10 assists. Aaron Gordon bullied his way to 16 points, 12 in the first quarter, and Michael Porter Jr. finished with 14 points.

Miami, which needed a Game 7 in the conference finals to get past Boston Monday, was led by 26 points and 13 rebounds from Bam Adebayo. Jimmy Butler finished with just 13 points on 6-of-14 shooting, and Caleb Martin, a star in the Eastern finals, struggled with just three points. Max Strus was worse – 0-for-10 shooting overall and 0-of-9 from 3.

The Heat had a string of six consecutive wins to start playoff series snapped that dated to last season. Gabe Vincent scored 19 for Miami and Haywood Highsmith contributed 18 points off the bench.

(Photo: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)